20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 69

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993

USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > 20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens > Part 69

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Mckinley married Ella Xanders, who is a daughter of Jacob and Maria Xanders, and they have had three chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. Their surviving child, Donna May, is the wife of I. A. Baker, who resides at Springfield. Mr. Mckinley is a member of the Re- formed Church. Fraternally, he is con- nected with the Odd Fellows and the Mac- cabees.

HARRY C. DOWNEY, head of the firm of W. C. Downey & Company, is one of the most prominent and successful of Springfield's younger generation of busi- ness men. He was born in this city in July, 1876, and is a son of W. C. Downey, one of the prominent early manufacturers of this vicinity.

W. C. Downey was born in Augusta County, Virginia, and in the early sixties emigrated to Ohio. He was for some

years identified with the P. P. Mast Com- pany, and in 1888 established a factory at Mechanicsburg for the manufacture of bale ties. The following year he moved the plant to Springfield and continued actively at its head until his death in May, 1903. He was a successful business man and one of the substantial citizens of Springfield. He was an active member of the Clark County Fair Board, and was always found foremost in support of such measures and enterprises as were calcu- lated to bring advancement and prosper- ity to the city. His death was considered a loss to the entire community.

Harry C. Downey was reared in the city of Springfield, and after completing the prescribed course in the public schools, attended Wittenberg College. This was supplemented by a course in Nelson's Business College. In 1896 he became as- sociated with his father in the manufac- turing business, and since his father's death has had sole charge of the plant, handling its affairs in the capable man- ner which has always characterized the inanagement of this concern.

March 1, 1904, Mr. Downey was joined in marriage with Miss Helen McGregor, a daughter of Frank MeGregor, one of the city's foremost citizens, and they have two children, Susan and William. Re- ligiously, they are members of the Second Presbyterian Church. Our subject is a very active member of the Springfield Commercial Club, and also belongs to the Lagonda Club.

HERBERT E. LOVELESS, who owns one hundred and seventy-seven acres of some of the finest farming land in Pleas-

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GEORGE W. BYMASTER

MRS. MARY T. BYMASTER

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ant Township, all in one body, lying along tered manhood. After his marriage he the Ellsworth Turnpike Road, was born October 31, 1876, near Catawba, Ohio, and is a son of Charles and Julia Frances (Lowe) Loveless.

Charles Loveless was born in 1832, in Virginia, and was a son of John Loveless. In early manhood he came to Ohio and lived on a farm in Champaign County for a time, when he came to Clark County and worked on the farm of Eli Hunter, near Catawba, moving subsequently to several other farms, the Yeazell, the Baldwin and the Joseph Wren farm, liv- ing on the latter for thirteen years. He then bought property near Catawba, on which he lived for three years and then moved to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Fannie Neer, where he still resides. He married Julia Frances Lowe, in Virginia, and they had nine children, namely : Charles, William, Mollie. Fannie, Rose Anna, Lena, Herbert E. and Nellie. Charles died at the age of three years. William married Ella Davis and they have two children, Carl and Morris. Mollie married Luther Neer and they have five children : Olive, Nathan, Leonard, Gladys and Emerson. Fannie married Grant Neer, of Clark County, and they have one son, Panl. Rose married Charles Gor- don and they have three children, Marion, Louis and Mark. Anna married Edward Rupert. They have no children. Lena married Carl Jones. They have no chil- dren. Nellie married Harley West and they reside at Springfield. They had one daughter, Margaret, who died aged two years.

rented the J. W. Yeazell farm, in Pleas- ant Township, on which he lived for three years and then came to his present place. Here he has made many substantial im- provements, and his farm has been de- veloped into one of the best in the town- ship. He raises grain and hay and many cattle and hogs.

Mr. Loveless was married November 15, 1898, to Florence Yeazell, who is a daughter of J. M. and Emma A. (Hous- ton) Yeazell, and they have one child, Thelma, who was born November 25, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Loveless are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Catawba. Mr. Loveless is an official member of the Junior Order of Amercian Mechanics, at Catawba. He is an enterprising, pro- gressive citizen and is held in high esteem in his community.

GEORGE W. BYMASTER, president of the Board of Infirmary Directors, who has been a resident of Clark County, Ohio, since 1853, was born August 25, 1833, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Bymaster was reared and received his educational training in Lancaster County and upon coming to Clark County, Ohio, located at Enon, where he was en- gaged in farming until 1862. He then en- listed in Company G. Ninety-fourth Regi- ment, O. V. I., and was mustered into service at Piqua, Ohio. He was in active service nearly three years and partic- ipated in those important engagements in the vicinity of Chattanooga-Buzzards Roost. Chickamanga, Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge. During the

Herbert E. Loveless obtained his educa- tion in the publis schools and has followed agricultural pursuits ever since he en- Georgia campaign while charging on the

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Confederate works at Resaca he was twice severely wounded, after which he was sent to the general hospital at Louisville, Ken- tueky, and, not being able to return on duty, was discharged in May, 1865. He was taken prisoner at Tates Ferry and re- leased on parole. After returning from the war he was located for one year at Donnelsville, Bethel Township, and after- wards went to Mad River Township where he worked out by the month for three years. He subsequently began farming in German Township for himself, and thus continued with much success for some twenty-four years. He then operated a dairy in Springfield Township for eleven years and built a commodious home at Sugar Grove, where he has since resided. Mr. Bymaster also purchased the old Stevenson farm of one hundred and thirty. four aeres in German Township and it is now operated by his son.

In 1859 Mr. Bymaster married Miss Mary Tilton and they have four sons and one daughter, namely: Irvin, now de- ceased; Forest, who operates a large cat- tle ranch containing three thousand and forty acres, in Grant County Kansas; David, who lives in North Dakota ; Charles (., who lives on his father's farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres; and Ida A., who lives at home.

Mr. Bymaster has always taken an ac- tive interest in political affairs and has served in varions minor offices in German · Township. He was trustee of Springfield Township for four years and a member of the School Board for nine years. He was elected president of the Board of Infirm- ary Directors in the fall of 1904, and for abont thirty-five years was engaged in pike work for the county.

Mr. Bymaster is a member of Powell Post No. 381, G. A. R., of Tremont City, and, religiously, is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Sims Chapel, of German Township.

STEPHEN CARY GOODALL was born on his father's farm in Darke Coun- ty, Ohio, June 5, 1861. His parents were James and Mary (Long) Goodall. He is a member of the Knights Templars at Springfield.

A. H. THOMAS, who has been a resi- dent of Springfield, Ohio, for some twenty years, is president of the Gearless Gas Engine Company and an inventor of prominence, holding patents to a number of important inventions which have proved a success on the market.

Mr. Thomas was born at Versailles, Ohio, in 1870, and was a small boy when his parents moved to Miami County, Ohio. where he was reared, attending the com- mon schools. Early in life he began learning the trade of a pattern-maker at Piqua, and when eighteen years of age came to Springfield and completed his ap- prenticeship to that trade, as well as to that of a machinist. He was with the Mast-Foos Company three years, then en- tered the employ of the Rogers Fere! Company, having charge of the lawn mower department for three years. It the end of that time he went to Troy. Ohio, where he was connected with the Adams Machine Shop for seven years. subsequently returning to Springfield. He was with the Springfield Gas Engine Com- pany five years, and two years with the

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Foos Gas Engine Company, but in the River, in what was then Lancaster Coun- meantime was spending his time working out some inventions that his practical eye saw were much needed. Having com- pleted a gearless gas engine, the only one invented, and applied for a patent, in 1904 the Gearless Gas Engine Company was in- corporated with a capital stock of $20,000 and the following officers : A. H. Thomas, president; C. W. Foster, vice president; and W. L. Yates, secretary. The gearless gas engine is without a rival in the market, and being a wonderful invention for which there was an immediate demand, the suc- cess of the company was assured from the first. In addition, Mr. Thomas holds pat- ents on an adjustable cuff holder and a lawn-mower, both practical inventions which have been a success.

In 1888 Mr. Thomas was joined in mar- riage with Miss Katie Foster, by whom he has five children, Earl F., Katherine, John, Isabelle, and Naomi. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Church of Christ. Fraternally, he is a member of Springfield Lodge, I. O. O. F.

JOHN BACON CRAIN, ex-county com- missioner, and owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and fifty acres located in Bethel Township, Clark County, Ohio, eight miles west of Springfield, on the south side of the Valley turnpike, was born in Springfield, Ohio, where the Ar- cade now stands, May 7, 1847, and is a son of John A. and Anna Matilda (Bacon) Crain.

The great-great-grandparents of Mr. Crain, William and Jean Crain, came to America from Ireland in 1732, settling on the Manada, a branch of the Swatara

ty, now Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Joseph, the second son of William Crain, was born in Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1738. During the War of the Revolution he served as first Lieutenant in Cap. Richard McQuown's Company, of Col: Tim Green's Regiment, and was later commissioned Captain of the Second Com- pany of the Sixth Battalion, Pennsyl- vania Troops, under Col. John Rogers. Capt. Crain remained in active service until 1777. He was married to Mary Moore and their second son, John Crain, the grandfather of John B. Crain, was horn November 25, 1773, and came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1806, from Han- over, Pennsylvania. He entered the pres- ent Charles R. Crain farm in 1806, and the old deed signed by President Madison is still in the possession of the family. John Crain was married to Lydia Reoder. John Adam Crain, the father of John B. Crain, was born October 14, 1811, in Betliel Township, Clark County, Ohio. While still a boy he went to Springfield and subsequently became postmaster dur- ing President Harrison's administration. After the death of his father he bought out the other heirs and returned to the home farm in Bethel Township. He later retired and moved to Springfield where he died November 12, 1889. He was mar- ried to Anna Matilda (Bacon) a native of Springfield, whose ancestors came from England in 1635. She died June 5, 1886. They had four children, as follows: John Bacon; Charles R., a resident of Bethel Township; Mary, deceased; and Edmund, a resident of Philadelphia.

John B. Crain lived in Springfield, Ohio, until five years of age, when he was

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brought by his parents to the farm in Bryan as miller for three years. After- Bethel Township, where his youth was wards he rented and operated a mil! north spent. His education was secured in the of Tremont for six years and in 1876 came to Clark County and purchased the Eagle City Mills in German Township from John H. Bryan and Jacob Messer. This property he operated until his death in 1903. district schools of Bethel Township, the common schools of Springfield, and the Commercial College of Dayton, Ohio. In 1873, Mr. Crain became a member of the firm of E. R. Hotsenpeller, millers, con- tinuing with this company until 1878. He then moved on the old Layton farm, which be purchased in 1871. Mr. Crain was married February 15, 1872, to Lydia Hot- senpeller, a daughter of Charles W. and Amelia (Reitenour) Hotsenpeller. Five children have been born to this union: Mary, who is the wife of Dr. C. M. Evans of New Carlisle, Ohio; Madge; Bertha; Kathleen, who married Harold McGregor, resides in Springfield; and John A., of New York.

In 1897 Mr. Crain was elected county commissioner on the Republican ticket and served six years.

MILTON H. HOCKMAN, a highly re- spected citizen of German Township, who is engaged in general farming and stock- raising on a farm of eighty-eight and a half acres, located six miles northwest of Springfield on the Joel Ebersole Road, was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, November 11, 1852, and is a son of Sam- uel R., and Anna Eliza (Gochenour) Hockman. He spent his early boyhood days in Virginia, coming to Ohio in 1867 when fifteen years of age, with his par- ents, who first located near Urbana, Champaign County. His father was a miller by trade and operated a grist-mill in Virginia until his removal to Ohio, when he entered the employ of Parker

Mr. Hockman learned the miller's trade and was in partnership with his father from 1876 until 1888, when he sold his interest, finding himself unable to stand the work, and in the spring of 1888 came to his present farm, first buying a tract of thirty-four and a half acres, to which he later added twenty-four acres, and again thirty acres in the fall of 1907. Here he has since followed general farm- ing and stock-raising and has made many important improvements on the place, in- cluding the remodeling of the buildings.

Mr. Hockman was married December 23, 1879, to Ella Dietrick, a daughter of Jacob Dietrick, and they have three chil- dren, Ada Frances; Nora, who is the wife of Irvin B. Shoup of Northampton and the mother of three children, Kennith. Carl, and Ellen; and Ida M. Hockman. Mr. Hockman attends the Dunkard Church, of which his wife is a member.

F. E. MOSHER, auditor of the Amer- ican Seeding Machine Company at Spring- field, Ohio, is one of the best known busi- ness men and citizens of this place. He is a member of various business, fraternal and social organizations, and has a wide acquaintance throughout the county.

Mr. Mosher was born at Salisbury, New York, August 8, 1870, and after attend- ing the public schools for a time pursued

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an academic course of study at Canastota, New York. He then became identified with the Eastman Kodak Company, with whom he continued for nine years, being in the capacity of auditor at the time he resigned. He then became connected with the Bickford & Huffman Co. division of the American Seeding Company located at Macedon, New York, continuing with them from 1899 until 1902, when he left their service to become secretary and manager of the Crandall Packing Com- pany at Palmyra, New York. July 1st, 1903, he moved to Springfield, Ohio, and again entered the employ of the American Seeding Company. He served as assistant anditor until January 1st, 1905, since which time he has discharged the duties of auditor. He also is interested in the Standard Trimmer Company at Spring- field. In 1901 Mr. Mosher was joined in marriage with Miss Katherine Stevens, a native of Despatch, New York. Fratern- ally, he is a member of the order of Ma- son and Elks, belongs to the Country Club, the Masonic Club, Y. M. C. A., and the Springfield Commercial Club.

was next in the employ of St. John's Sew- ing Machine Company, later, of the Springfield Engine and Thresher Com- pany, and then served eight years as fore- man of the wood department of the A. C. Evans Manufacturing Company. Upon leaving the employ of the last named com- pany, he was made first superintendent of the Ohio Planing Mill and Box Company, and in 1895 began his connection with the Springfield Planing Mill. He served as superintendent until 1903, then was elected president and treasurer of the company, whose affairs he has since directed with marked ability. Mr. Duffey was married in 1901 to Miss Mamie A. Johnson of Springfield. Fraternally, he is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and belong to the Junior Order United American Mechanics.

ELLIOTT D. WHEELER, owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-nine acres located on Yellow Springs Pike, five miles southwest of Springfield, in Green Township, Clark County, Ohio, has been a resident there throughout his entire life. He was born on his present farm in March, 1846, and is a son of John and Catherine (Inlow) Wheeler.

A. L. DUFFEY, who has been promi- nently identified with the city's business activities many years, has resided in Ebenezer Wheeler, grandfather of onr subject, came to Green Township from New Jersey while this country was in a comparatively wild state and was among the earliest pioneers. The church on the hill near the Wheeler farm was named in his honor. He and his wife were parents of eleven children. Springfield, Ohio, for a period of twenty- eight years and is at present president and treasurer of the Springfield Planing Mill and Lumber Company. Mr. Duffey was born and .reared in Highland County, Ohio, the date of his birth being 1859. He remained in his native community until he reached his majority, then came to John Wheeler was born on the same Springfield, Ohio, and engaged as a wood- farm as our subject and there grew to worker with Rhinehart & Bullard. He maturity. attending the primitive schools

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of that early period. He followed farm- education was pursued along the line of ing throughout life and also conducted a his natural inclinations and he remained in his native city until 1876, when he threshing outfit. His death occurred in 1858. He married Catherine Inlow, a na- came first to Springfield, at that time be- tive of Clark County, and a daughter of Abraham Inlow. They were parents of seven children, of whom Elliott D. is the sole survivor. Politically, the father was a Republican but never an office seeker.

Elliott D. Wheeler was reared and has always lived on the old Wheeler farm. He engages in general farming and stock- raising, and has met with more than aver- age success. He was united in marriage with Miss Amy Woliston, who was born in Springfield and is a daughter of John Woliston, who for many years followed carpentering in that city. Six children were born to bless their union, namely : Walter, Nettie, Warren (deceased), Homer (deceased), Ralph, and Lola. In politics he has always been a stanch Re- publican and for some years served as a member of the School Board. Although too young to enter the armny at the begin- ning of the Civil War, in 1864 he enlisted in the 100-day service and went to the front for that period. He is a man of many admirable qualities, and is held in highest esteem by his fellow citizens.

coming connected with the St. John Sew- ing Machine Company, of this city, har- ing charge of its japanning department. From Springfield he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he established a piano plate manufacturing business, remaining there until September, 1889, when he returned to Springfield, which city continued to be the scene of his business successes during the remainder of a busy life. He asso- ciated with him John Chapman, a native of Newark, New Jersey, also a practical man in the business, and the concern was incorporated in the above year. Great preparations were immediately made for the carrying on of a large industry, eight acres of land being secured, adequate and appropriate buildings being erected there- on, and machinery being installed to make the plant one of the best and most com- plete of its kind in the world. Experi- enced and capable workmen were brought together and each year the business as- sumed larger and larger proportions.

On September 28, 1903, the whole plant was destroyed by fire, when Mr. Chapman retired and Mr. Wickham and James Johnson, Jr., organized a stock company known as the Wickham Piano Plate Com- pany. A fire-proof structure was erected, it being in every way a much more elab- orate plant, and here the business is still conducted. The manufactured articles inelude piano plates, piano hardware, the latter designation covering action brack- ets, pedal feet, pedal guards, bearing bars, organ pedal frames and all other

HENRY WICKHAM, formerly one of Springfield's leading manufacturers, who, at the time of his death, on November 13, 1907, was at the head of the largest house manufacturing piano plates and piano hardware in the world, had been more or less identified with Springfield interests since 1876. Mr. Wickham came of Eng- lish-Irish ancestry and was born in the City of New York June 15th, 1854. His devices. Their field of distribution covers

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the world. Mr. Wickham never lost his Clark County, .Ohio, and is a son of practical interest in the business, which George W. and Mary J. (Tilton) Bymas- he thoroughly understood in every detail, ter. and as long as he lived he took a justifi- able pride in the fact that no matter how many changes entered into the business of many competitors, the same high stan- dard of perfection continued in his own as had prevailed at the beginning.

On October 15, 1878, Henry Wickham was married to Theresa Murphy, who was born at West Jefferson, Ohio, and is a daughter of John Murphy, who was in a grocery business in Madison County, for a number of years. Mr. and Mrs. Wick- ham became parents of five children, namely: Grace, who married L. C. Gor- such, residing at Springfield; Edna, re- siding with her mother; Frank, residing at Springfield; and John and Henry, both of whom are students in St. Mary's In- stitute, at Dayton, Ohio. Mrs. Wickham and family are members of St. Raphael's Catholic Church, at Springfield. Mr. Wickham was a consistent churchman and gave liberally in support of charity and to further benevolence. He was a mem- ber of the order of Knights of Columbus. He owned valuable real estate in Clark County, including a beautiful country home and the elegant city residence on the corner of Burnett Road and Harrison Street. In his political affiliation he was a Republican.

CHARLES OSCAR BYMASTER, a well known resident of German Township. who is engaged in general agriculture on a farm of 134 acres, which he owns in partnership with his father, was born July 21. 1870, in German Township,

Charles O. Bymaster was reared and educated in his native township, and with the exception of twelve years spent in Springfield Township, where he operated a dairy in connection with farming, has always been a resident of German Town- ship. In March, 1905, Mr. Bymaster and family moved to his present farm, which is situated five miles northwest of Spring- field on the Clark and Miami Pike at the junetion of the old Troy Road. He here follows general farming and is one of the most enterprising and progressive young agriculturists in the township.

On December 23, 1897, Mr. Bymaster was joined in marriage with Mary E. Powell, a daughter of William Sinclair and Eliza Powell, and of this union have been born three children-Paul, George, Ruth Lucille, and Charles Robert. Mr. Bymaster has always taken an active in- terest in politics and is an ardent sup- porter of the Republican party.

THOMAS H. ROBERTS, whose valu- able farm of 160 acres is situated in Moorefield Township and is the original quarter section which was entered by his father from the Government, almost 100 years ago, is a leading citizen of this part of Clark County. Mr. Roberts was born on his present farm, March 28, 1836, and is a son of James H. and Mary (Wren) Roberts.

James H. Roberts was born in Vir- ginia, in 1785, and came to Clark County, Ohio, in 1810. After securing his land and beginning its clearing and cultivation.

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Mr. Roberts rented it out to another early Charleston Road, just one-half inile south settler and moved to Lawrenceburg, In- of the Mechanicsburg Turnpike, about diana, near Cincinnati, where he operated nine miles northeast of Springfield. This is a beautiful and fertile section of Clark County. a tannery imtil the death of his first wife, after which he returned to his farm in Ohio. He added more land to his first purchase and at the time of his death, in 1863, he owned 235 acres. Until 1832 he lived with his family in a log house, but then built a one-story brick one, and in the latter his son, Thomas H., was born. James H. Roberts was married (first) to Jane Wilson, in Virginia, and they had one child when they came to Ohio, Will- iam, who was born in Virginia in 1808. Six more children were born to that mar- riage in Ohio. Mr. Roberts was married (second) to Mary Wren, and they had ten children. nine of whom survived infancy. The mother of these children died in 1876. In every sense of the word, James H. Roberts was a typical pioneer. He was a man of robust constitution, of en- terprising nature and of sterling char- acter.

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20th century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens, Part 69

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co. Number of Pages: 993

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 993